Mancini won't replace Tevez

Roberto Mancini insists he will not seek a replacement for Carlos Tevez in the transfer window, despite talks taking place between Manchester City's scouting department and representatives of the £40m-rated Napoli forward Edinson Cavani, WRITES MARK OGDEN.

Roberto Mancini insists he will not seek a replacement for Carlos Tevez in the transfer window, despite talks taking place between Manchester City's scouting department and representatives of the £40m-rated Napoli forward Edinson Cavani, WRITES MARK OGDEN.

Tevez, who remains in Argentina after flying to South America without City's permission almost three weeks ago, is expected to seal a January move, with the club allowing the player's adviser to open talks with AC Milan and Juventus over a permanent deal.

Any sale of the 27-year-old would leave City with only three recognised forwards in Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko, prompting speculation in Italy linking the club with the Napoli duo of Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

But although City scout Barry Hunter met Claudio Angelluci, Cavani's agent, in Rome this week, club officials have insisted privately that the talks took place at the request of the Cavani camp.

And despite the Uruguayan underlining his pedigree by scoring both goals in Napoli's 2-1 Champions League win against City in Naples on Tuesday, Mancini claims he has no plans to recruit another forward.

Mancini said: "Another striker? No, I have three strikers and that is enough. I also have three or four players who can also play as a striker."

Mancini refused to discuss Tevez's future yesterday, but it is understood that City are determined to secure a fee of at least £25m for their former captain, who has not played since falling into dispute with the club after the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich on September 27.